Book 1 Chapter 421
421.
“Shadow’s Scripture?!”
“There was such a thing?”
The first day of the summit.
After the meeting concluded and its contents were organized and announced, the students showed surprised expressions.
What gathered the most fervent interest was about the Shadow's Scripture.
In the dormitory dining hall, amidst everyone's surprise, Chloe asked Chen Xia, who was next to her.
“Xia, did you know about this?”
“Yes.”
As Chen Xia replied with her characteristic smile, Iliana fussed.
“Why didn’t you say anything! It’s an incredible discovery! Besides, if we knew that Shadows could also have their names recorded in the Hero Record, those thoughtless people wouldn’t have ignored or looked down on you!”
Iliana reacted with excitement.
Students from Glory Dormitory or those who were in the same class as Chen Xia during their first year treated her without prejudice even after her identity as a Shadow was revealed.
Chen Xia herself, with Leo’s help, had overcome her identity crisis and decided to follow her own path, no longer fixated on being a hero or a Shadow.
However, as the princess of Shan, there were bound to be students who viewed her with colored glasses.
Heroes are those who have achieved great feats worthy of divine recognition.
But no matter how great a hero, as a human, they cannot be a flawless being.
Some have made grave mistakes, and some, despite their achievements, do not possess noble character.
There were also heroes who committed acts that deserved @blame.
But because they received divine recognition, people quickly forgot that fact.
However, Shadows were not granted divine recognition, placing them under a stricter standard than heroes.
Even so, no second-year student openly despised Chen Xia.
Celia from the Knights Department, to which she belonged, and even Duran, who had stronger pride than anyone, regarded Chen Xia as a rival.
Chloe, Chelsea, and Abad, the tops of the Magic Department, were also close friends with Chen Xia.
In the Summoning Department, Eliza considered Chen Xia one of the few opponents she would concede to.
Wareden was not the kind of person to care about such things in the first place.
Crucially, she was a close friend of Leo, the student council president.
There were no fools in Lumerne who would willingly ruin their school life by getting on the bad side of the grade tops.
However, they couldn't change their subconscious glances.
It was only because Chen Xia ignored such glances that no one stepped forward.
Chloe and Iliana, fellow dorm mates, knew that fact well.
Seeing Iliana clench her fists as if frustrated, Chloe sighed softly.
“Since it’s a classified matter of Shan, Xia couldn’t just talk about it carelessly. Besides, even if the existence of the Shadow’s Scripture becomes known, things won't change drastically right away.”
“Miss Chloe is right. It’s up to Shadows, including myself, to change people’s perceptions.”
“Ugh. Still, the Dragon Lord even declared that he wouldn’t stand by if anyone discriminated! Now, if there are any guys who look at you that way, I’ll beat them to a pulp.”
“Thank you, Miss Iliana.”
It was when Chen Xia smiled faintly.
“Um. Lady Chen Xia.”
At that moment, Eiran hesitantly approached.
The second-ranked student among the second-year generation of Seirun.
“Yes, Miss Eiran.”
“As the Princess of Shan, Lady Chen Xia, have you ever personally seen the Shadow’s Scripture?”
“Of course.”
“Then, did you see the records of the Starting Hero?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, I’m so envious!”
Eiran, who loved heroic tales, fussed.
“What kind of stories were there?”
Eiran’s eyes sparkled.
Following her, Chloe and Iliana also looked at Chen Xia with curious eyes.
The Starting Hero, Kyle.
Until just a year ago, he was considered nothing more than a fictional character, but after evidence of his real existence was revealed, a reevaluation had been continuously taking place.
However, since there were almost no remaining records, research into his deeds was making slow progress.
In such a situation, to hear that Kyle’s records had been discovered, it was natural for hero candidates to be interested.
“What are you all talking about so interestingly?”
Chelsea, passing by with her meal tray, tilted her head and asked, to which Chloe replied.
“About the Shadow’s Scripture and the Starting Hero.”
“I’m interested in that story too!”
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled as she quickly sat down and said to Abad, who was with her.
“Brother, sit here!”
At her words, Abad burst out laughing and sat next to Chelsea.
“I’m also curious about what kind of magic the Starting Hero used. Was he really all-class?”
“Yes.”
Lunia, who was eating from afar, rested her chin on her hand, watching the boisterous atmosphere.
“Lumerne really never has a quiet day.”
Lunia shook her head slightly.
At that moment, Cal, Ar, and Driana, who were sitting together, stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“They’re talking about the Starting Hero! Aren’t you curious?”
As Ar’s eyes sparkled, Lunia shook her head.
“Not really.”
“Leave this long-ear alone. She's the type who'll resist due to pride even if she wants to listen.”
“Right. If we leave her alone, she’ll come on her own, won’t she?”
Driana and Cal chuckled and went with Ar towards Chen Xia.
“I’m really not that curious.”
Lunia made a nonchalant face.
But every time a boisterous story came up, her ears perked up repeatedly.
“Oh, seriously!”
A moment later, as if she couldn’t stand it, she ran towards the noisy group.
***
“Through this summit, we plan to break down the boundaries between heroes and Shadows and strengthen cooperation.”
In Mel’s office.
Melina spoke with a serious face.
“And we also intend to strengthen harmony between races.”
The world was filled with distrust between nations due to various interests.
And distrust between races had continued.
Melina, for her part, wanted to mend all such discord in her generation and unite their strength as much as possible.
Given that the collapse of the Genesis Hero Record was not far off.
It was no exaggeration to say that the threat of Erebus was imminent.
“Fortunately, thanks to Lord Leo, Lord Rodia has gained new power, so our time has been extended, but…”
“That too will only be a stalling tactic.”
Leo said, picking up the teacup Melina had brought.
“What do you think of the heroes of this era?”
Melina asked.
The heroes of this era whose names were recorded in the Hero Record.
They would undoubtedly become the strength to fight Erebus and Tartarus in the distant future.
“They’re all excellent.”
“Do you have any advice for them?”
“Well.”
Leo’s red eyes curved.
“No matter what anyone says, they are the ones who have achieved feats worthy of divine recognition and have their names recorded in the Hero Record.”
Leo took a sip of tea and then set it down.
“It would be funny to give unsolicited advice to those who are already on stage and doing their part creditably.”
“Then…”
“I’m still more interested in the hero candidates who will lead the next generation. So, I’ve made a plan for this summer vacation.”
“A plan?”
Melina tilted her head.
Leo took a paper from his pocket and handed it to Melina.
Melina, receiving and reading it, said.
“Hmm… It’s a training schedule. Are you planning to do this?”
“That’s right. It’s a kind of training camp, I suppose? We plan to do it on the Flob family’s estate.”
At Leo’s words, Melina smiled sympathetically.
‘These children will experience hell during summer vacation.’
“I’d like to invite the people listed there as instructors, could I ask you to arrange it?”
“Yes. I will make the preparations.”
Melina nodded and put the schedule in her arms, then asked.
“There’s something I want to ask Lord Leo.”
“What is it?”
“How long do you plan to hide the fact that you are the reincarnation of the Starting Hero?”
At that question, Leo crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling in thought.
“Do you plan to hide it forever?”
“I don’t think so. A day will come when I’ll have to reveal my identity myself.”
Leo, lost in thought, shook his head.
“But not now. It would be best to reveal it when I’ve gained power that isn’t inferior compared to my past self, at the very least.”
Leo was rapidly recovering his past power and accumulating strength through conquest rewards from the hero's world, but he hadn't fully regained his peak power yet.
“Yes.”
***
The summit held in Lumerne.
And the world was shaken by the news that followed.
On the first day alone, stories about the Hero Record, the appearance of the Shadow’s Scripture, and the final journeys of great heroes that had been unknown until now flowed out.
The next day, Melina continued to amaze the world by revealing the Hero Records of the heroes who had been active during the Yormungand subjugation, which she had received from Leo.
Even as surprising events continued to unfold, the first-year final exam tournament continued.
And before long, it was the semifinals.
“Wow, the class president’s mentee… that’s amazing, isn’t it?”
Iliana exclaimed, sticking out her tongue.
“The last-ranked student in the grade made it to the semifinals? And his opponent is none other than the grade representative!”
Cal rested his chin on his hand, watching Iliana’s sparkling eyes.
“You look happy.”
“Of course! Austin is safe!”
Austin, Iliana’s mentee and a knight of Leo, had achieved a safe score.
With her worry about expulsion gone, Iliana wholeheartedly enjoyed the first-year sparring matches from then on.
“Besides, thanks to betting on the class president’s mentee, the underdog payout hit several times!”
Iliana’s eyes sparkled as she shook her money pouch.
“I messed up my written exam and almost had my allowance cut off! Thanks to this, my worries about second-semester allowance are gone!”
Eiran, watching Iliana from beside her, admired her.
“That’s amazing.”
“Hehe-! Call me Lady Iliana, the heart of a beast.”
“That’s kind of cool!”
“Don’t think it’s cool, Eiran unnie. That’s not the heart of a beast, it’s the head of a beast.”
Chelsea said calmly, watching Eiran, who was admiring her, even @clapping her hands.
“Hehe. Anyway, shall I try to make this money grow more? Cal. I’ll buy a betting slip!”
“What are you talking about? Luke?”
“What are you talking about? Of course, Aina!”
“Weren’t you always only Luke until now?”
“Hmph! A true gambler doesn’t gamble! A true professional secures money in a winning match, even if the odds are low!”
It was not something someone who was talking about the heart of a beast should say.
“So how much are you betting?”
“All of it.”
Seeing Iliana's eyes gleam with greed, Cal sold the betting slip without hesitation.
“Make this unnie rich! My cute junior.”
It was when Iliana’s eyes were sparkling.
“I’ll try that too.”
Someone approached Cal.
It was none other than Leah.
Leah, whose soul had been powdered after being captured by Halind, had barely recovered in a few days.
“To whom?”
“This much to Aina Beidna.”
Leah handed a wad of cash to Cal.
Seeing Leah’s eyes burning with a different emotion than greed, Cal sold the betting slip without a word.
‘It’s not my money.’
Cal put the wad of money into his subspace.
“I should start preparing my business soon.”
***
“Hoo.”
Luke took a deep breath before entering the arena.
Leo was not there.
In fact, Leo had not visited Luke even once since the first match.
He was disappointed, but at the same time, he had a thought.
‘This must be senior’s way of saying I can do it on my own now.’
Thinking that, he slapped his cheek.
He calmed his trembling heart.
Throughout the first semester.
The person he had only watched from afar, whom he could only think of as amazing, was waiting.
‘How well can I do?’
The other students he had faced so far were certainly formidable.
But his current opponent was on a different level.
Literally the strongest first-year.
Anxiety assailed him, and his heart pounded.
But he soon took a deep breath and moved forward.
‘Let’s go. Luke.’
He shook off his anxiety.
‘It’s time to test the results of my training against the strongest first-year.’